Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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134. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current serving force in the Irish Defence Forces by rank; the total number serving; the number serving by rank in January 2024;in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2127/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the military authorities of the following breakdown by rank of the members serving in the Permanent Defence Force at the end of 2023 and end of 2024 is as follows: -

I have acknowledged in the past the recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces. To address these, I have introduced a number of measures. These include an increase in recruitment age to 39 years for those roles that had a recruitment age below that, and to 50 years for Direct Entry Specialists. The mandatory retirement age has been increased to 62. Private secondary healthcare has been extended to all PDF members. The Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea has been doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year and the Naval Service tax credit has been extended for a further five years. There has also been significant progress on pay in recent years.

Some positive trends have recently become apparent. There were 708 inductions in 2024, the highest since 2017 while the number of discharges stood at 674, the lowest in four years. This represents a significant improvement and is suggestive of a plateauing of the downward trend in numbers.

Interest in a career in the Defence Forces continues to rise as evidenced by the total of 13,348 applications received in 2024. This exceeds the total of each of the 5 preceding years.

Budget 2025 provided a record allocation of €1.35 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €100 million. This allocation provides for, inter alia, the recruitment of at least a net additional 400 personnel per annum.

Whilst there are still undoubtedly challenges, significant progress has been made on a number of fronts and the allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector is illustrative of my intent in this regard.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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135. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the up-to-date position with the derelict housing in the Curragh camp County Kildare; the outcome of the report he commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2128/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to vacant residential type properties in the Curragh, I am advised that none of these properties can be occupied without considerable refurbishment and were built before the Building Regulations and associated standards arising from same came into effect. A consultant was commissioned by the Defence Forces to assess the condition of the vacant housing in barracks and its suitability for conversion/refurbishment to provide for additional single living-in accommodation for Defence Force personnel. This report is near completion. Once my officials receive it from the Defence Forces, they will submit recommendations to me on the remediation programme to be undertaken.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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136. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of females serving by rank in the Irish Defence Forces; the number of females serving by rank in January 2022, 2023, 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2129/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the military authorities of the following breakdown by rank of females serving in the Permanent Defence Force at the end of the years requested, and including 2024:

It is government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces. While the percentage of female representation is low, it is not out of step with international comparators.

In addition to the range of recruitment and retention measures that apply to all members, a number of specific initiatives to attract and retain females are in train. Notable amongst these has been the appointment by open competition of a full time Gender Adviser position (GENAD) at the rank of Colonel. Others include the tailoring of fitness test requirements for females, the development within the Defence Forces female career profiles which will be available online when completed and ongoing, targeted support offered, as appropriate, to female applicants in the recruitment pipeline throughout the application process.